Canning apparatus



M. M. LOCKARD.

CANNING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.5. I9l8.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M. M.v LOCKARD.

CANNING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

amntoz Patented Mar.'30, 1920.

M. M. LOCKARD.

CANNING APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION man AUG-5.1918.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

MARCUS. 1v:- QQK BD. o MERIDIAN, lvussrsslrr CANNING PrAaerUs.

Sp ific i o t r t s Patented Mar. 30, 19.21).

Application filed August- 5, 1818. Serial No. 248,425.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARCUS M. 1300mm), a citizen of the United States, residing at Meridian, in the county of Lauderdale, State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Canning Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to, which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus whereby the various steps of canning operations may expeditiously be carried out, and the invention is directed to the provision of general improvements in an'apparatus of the type shown in Patent No. 1,253,83, granted to me January 15, 1918.

The structure of my said previous patent provides a simple apparatus wherein the several steps of a canning operation can be simultaneously carried out to ermit a practically continuous operation of all portions of the apparatus and wherein the necessary heat is suplied by a single fire.

It is primarily the object of my present invention to improve the heating efiiciency of this single fire with respect to the various portions of the apparatus, and to increase the facility with which cans may be handled within the apparatus in the various steps of the calming operation.

More particularlg it is an object to provide a water tube arrangement with the fire box of the apparatus which is adapted also to form a grate for the fire box, and wherein the passage of water through said tubes is so controlled as to prevent an uneven heating of the water within the various compartments of the apparatus.

A further object resides in a supporting arrangement for cans in the preliminary steps of the canning operations, whereby said cans may be partially immersed in the water to heat the same for exhausting gases contained or generated in the food contents of the cans, or may be entirely immersed in the water to scald the food or effect a .cooking thereof preliminary to the main cooking operation.

A still further object resides in the pros riaien of supporting means for a plurality of cans so arranged that the cans may be efficiently carried thereby, and may when desired be simultaneously dumped therefrom to obviate the necessity oflifting the cans therefrom one at a time, the particular application of this feature'being' with respect to the support of the cans for the main cooking operation whereby at the end of said mail cooking operation the cans may be simultaneously dumped into a tub of cold water to efiect their rapid cooling. With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings: a Figure 1 is a'persp'ective view of a canning apparatus embodying the present invention and of that type comprising a pair of main cooking chambers disposed at'the sides of the fire-box.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view therethrough on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line of Fig. 2, showing the fire box water tubes for the chamber located above the fire box. a

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal. sectional view through the device on the line 55 of Fig. 1 and showing the lower can holding tray of the preliminary heating chamber in immersed position, and theupper tray in partially immersed position for exhausting'the food gases of cans seated therein.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the basket partly raised for ex hausting. 1

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lower tray.

' Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the rack of one of the main cooking chambers.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a canning apparatus embodying the present invention of that type including only one main heating chamber.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the structure taken on the sectionline 1010 of Fig. 9. d

Fg. 11 is a front elevation of the draft dor'1 8 and a portion of the wall 11, showing the pivoted door or slide 23 for controllin the opening 22.

Eeferri'ng now more particularly to the drawings, the various compartments of the canning apparatus are disposed within a main casing of general rectangular shape and comprising side walls 10, end walls 11 and a bottom formed of outer portions 12 extending inwardly from the lower edges of the walls connected with an upwardly ofi'set central bottom section 13 by upstanding walls 14 connecting the adjacent edges of said central and outer bottom sections, thespace inclosed by the walls 14 and bottom section 13 forming the single'fire-box of the apparatus which is common to all ofthe compartments thereof and the end walls 11 being cut away to disclose the ends of this fire-box chamber. To divide the easing into main cooking compartments A at the sides thereof, and a central preliminary chamber 13 at its central portion above the fire-box, a pair of vertical partitions 15 are provided in the casing extending parallelto the side walls 10, the upper edges of these partition walls terminating flush with the top of the casing and the lower edges of the partition walls being secured to the sidefire-box walls 14 at thelower portions of saidwalls, it being noted that these Walls 14 are upwardly convergent 1 whereby to provide downward extensions b of the central chamber 13 between them and the partition Walls 15.

, Carried by and extending transversely between the lower portions of the fire-box walls'14 below the meeting edges of the partition walls '15 are a series of water tubes .16, said tubes being closed at alternately her and circulation of water from one chamber to another ispositively prevented, such circulation of water in a device of the present character tending to convey water heated by the tubes into that chamber which would happen to receive the most heat to thus further heat the water in said chamber 7 and render this heating with respect to the of the chamber B to insure uniform heating at either side and the end tubes 17 being disposed near one end of the fire-box chamber so as to practically obstruct said end. i

For closing the other end of the fire-box chamber which is otherwise entirely unobstructed, a draft door 18 is provided hav "ing a hinged sleeve 19 at its upperedge engageable on a rod 20 carried by a pair of spaced sleeves 21 on the adjacent end wall 11 above the fire-box. The draft door is provided with an opening 22 which may be closed by a plate 23 mounted for pivotal sliding movement on the door; Above the fire-box, the other end wall of the casing is provided with a pair of attaching. sleeves 24 in which is mounted a rod 25 carrying a sleeve 26 formed at the inner ed e-of a top plate of a smoke box 27 whereby said smoke box may be readily and detachably secured to the casing. A. stack 28 rises from.

WVithin each of the main cooking chambers B there s suspended a frame compr1s- V 7 ing corner posts 29 angular in cross sectionand connected'at their lower ends by securement to upturned flanges 30 at one side edge andboth end edges of a reticulate plate 31 whose area is substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the chamber A and which is adapted to support a series of cans. The upper ends of the posts are directed inwardly for securement to the ends of a cover plate 32 which is adapted to seat on the upper edges of the walls of the chamber B andthus maintain the, frame in suspension,;at the same time closing the topQof the chamber. Connecting each pair of posts atjthe ends of the frame are strips 33 angular in cross section, one side'of each ofthese strips extending horizontally inward and adapted in conjunction with an opposite strip side to support a reticulate pan plate 34 having upturned flanges 35 at its end edges and one of its side edges. In the present structure there are provided two horizontally opposed pairs of strips 33 adapted tosupport a pair of these pan plates, which are spaced a suflicient distance from each other and from the bottom plate 31 and top plate 32 to permit seating of series of cans m of moderate height on all the plates, it being noted that these pan plates 34 are readily removable whereby supported in the frame. open side edge for each of the can supportingpan plates, cans supported thereon may be removed by simply tilting the frame to dump them therefrom, and this arrangement is particularly valuablein placing the cans cans of comparatively great'height may be By providing an in a tub of cold water immediately at the completion of the cooking operation, to procure the necessary quick cooling :of :the cans, the necessity :of lifting hot cans one by one being thus obviated. Each of the frames may be :readily manipulated by grasping the handles 37 carried .by 13116 ends of U- shaped sheets of metal strips 38 having their bight portions secured on the ends of the cover plate 32 preferably by the bolts 39 which secure the upper ends of the posts 29 to said cover plate.

In Fig. 10 is shown a sectional view through a modified structure embodying the present invention, but wherein a single main cooking chamber A is provided. This structure is identical with the previously described structure at one side of the firebox, while at the other side of the box the end wall 11 of the main casing is disposed adjacent the fire-box wall 14 and the eXtension 5 of the preliminary heating chamber is bounded by the wall 1'1 and the wall 14 and a narrow bottom wall section 12. Water tubes Mi extend between the walls '14 in a general manner heretofore described, and these tubes are alternately in communication with the portions b of the chamber B and with the single chamber A.

Taking up now the receptacles which are disposed in the preliminary heating chamber B, there is provided a tray 40 having side walls 41, and perforated in its bottom and this plate is suspended adjacent the bottom of the chamber B by handles each formed of a single length of wire 42 bent in substantially U-shape and having the free ends of their legs hooked at 43 in the side Walls of the tray. Adjacent the body of the wire, the legs are bent "to formhook portions 44 adapted to engage over the upper edges of the end walls 11, the bigh't of th wire thus being spaced outwardly from the end walls when the "tray is hung in the chamber, and forming handle grips for manipulating the tray. To provide for suspending the tray adjacent 'the top of the chamber 'B, where cans therein may be but partially immersed in the water'of't'he chamher, the legs of the wire handle member 'adj acent the tray are bent to form hook portions 45, also enga-geable over the end walls 11, and these hook portions also form supporting abutments for attaching sleeves 46 of angular strips 47 forming seating ledges for a basket 48, when the tray 40 is suspended in the bottom of the chamber This basket comprises a frame of sheet metal at its mouth portion, while its lower portion is formed by wire mesh 49. For supporting-the basket in the chamber B independently of the support afforded by the tray handles 42, plates .50 are pivoted to the end portions of the frame sides of the basket and the frames at each end of the "It will of course be understood that "when using the basket, the lower tray may or may not remain in place. It also of c'ourse understood that a cover of any desired character may be employed for the central compartment, the cover being omitted in the illustration in the interest of clea-rness.

What is claimed is:

1. In an a paratus of the class described, a pair of heating compartments, 'a com-bustion chamber between said compartments and tubes extending across the combustion chamber between the compartments, said.

tubes having alternately opposite ends in communication with the compartments.

'2. an apparatus of the class described, 7 a pair of heating compartments, a combustion chamber between said compartments and tubes extending across the lower portion of the combustion chamber between the compartments, said tubes having :al'ltern'ately opposite ends in communication with the compartments and said tubes also forming grate members for the combustion chamber.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of heating compartments, -a combustion chamber disposed therebetween and tubular members extending transversely across the combustion chamber and carried by the adjacent walls of the compartments, alternately opposite ends of the tubes being closed and the other ends of the tubes communicating with one compartment and the remaining tubes communicating with the other. i

it. An apparatus of the class described including a :main -=casing, a combustion chamber within said casing including side walls and :a top, upstandin partition walls in the casing having their lower e'dge portions connected with intermediate portions of the side walls-of the combustion chamher and dividing the casing into outer compartments and a central compartment, water tubes extending between the side walls of the combustion chamber below the partition walls and communicating with the come partment's formed at the outer sides the partition wallsyand water tubes extending between the side walls of the combustion chamber above the junctures 'of the partition walls and communicating with 7 single compartment formed by said partition walls. I V

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a cooking compartment, a frame adapted to fit within the said cooking compartment and comprising corner posts connected at their end portions, angle iron strips connecting the corner posts at the end portions of the frame, and can seating pans detachably supported by said strips, said pans having end walls and one side wall, the other side being Open, as and for the purposes specified.

6. In an apparatus of the class described,

a COOklIlg compartment, a frame adapted to portions at the outer ends of said handle members engageable over the mouth edges of the chamber, hook portions adjacent the inner ends of the handle members overlying the tray and engageable over the mouth edges of the chamber and a second tray adapted for support by said last named hook portions.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a heating chamber, a receptacle engageable therein, and handle plates pivoted to the corner portions of the receptacle and having a series of seating shoulders at the outer edge of each handle plate engageable with the mouth edge of the chamber for adjustably suspending the receptacle in the chamber. i

9. A canning apparatus comprising a main casing, a vertical partition extending to the top of the casing dividing said casing transversely, said casing having a reentrant bottom portion producing a combustion chamber, said partition providing a compartment at one side of the combustion chamber and water tubes traversing the combustion chamber and communicating with the compartments at the side and above the combustion chamber.

10. A canning apparatus comprising a main casing, a vertical partition dividing 11. A canning apparatus comprisingv a. main casing having an inset bottom portion forming a combustion chamber therebeneath and a heating chamber thereabove with heating surfaces at the top and sides of the combustion chamber, a vertical partition in the casing and connected to one side wall of the combustion chamber whereby the lower portion of the compartment outwardly of the partition will be exposed to the heating action of the combustion chamber, a draft door for one end of the combustion chamber and a smoke box for the opposite end of said combustion chamber having a stack, said door and smoke box being detachable from the casing.

12. A canning apparatus comprising a main casing having an inset bottom portion forming a combustion chamber therebeneath and a heating chamber thereabove with heating surfaces at the top and sides of the combustion chamber, a vertical partition in the casing and connected to one side wall of the combustion chamber whereby the lower portion of the compartment outwardly of the partition will be exposed to the heating action of the combustion chamber, a draft door for one end of the combustion chamber, a smoke box for the other end of said combustion chamber, said door and smoke box being hinged to the casing for detachment therefrom, said smoke box being de signed to support a stack, acan supporting frame in the compartment and supporting trays suspended within the heating chamber for vertical adjustment at different eleva+ tions, said heatingchamber having a cover.

13. In a canning apparatus, a plurality of compartments, a combustion chamber arranged beneath one of the compartments, water tubes across the combustion chamber and each independently communicating with a compartment, draft regulating means for vsaid combustion chamber,"a smoke flue for the combustion chamber, and supporting means suspended within the compartments.

14. In a canning apparatus, a plurality of compartments, a combustion chamber arranged beneath one of the compartments, water tubes across the combustion chamber and each independently communicating with a compartment, closing and supporting means for the compartment, said supporting means for the compartment above the combglstion chamber being vertically adjusta e.

15. In a canning apparatus, a heating chamber, a receptacle engageable therein,

.handle members pivotally connected with said receptacle, and having books at the upper ends thereof and intermediate hook portions, supporting ledges carried by said handles and sustained by said intermediate hook portions, a second receptacle adapted to be supported upon said ledges and plates pivoted to the opposite sides of the second through the medium of the hooked portions receptacle and having outer edges thereof thereof. 10 provided with stepped recesses, said plates In testimony whereof I aflix my signature being connected in opposed pairs and adaptin the presence of two Witnesses.

ed to be folded into the heating chamber MARCUS M. LOCKARD. and for independently or simultaneously Witnesses: engaging the walls of the heating chamber, E. B. WILLIAMs,

in connection with said handle portions W. T. WALTON. 

